Wednesday 29 July 2015

What I Took to the Pool/Beach


I am currently suffering from a major bout of holiday blues, whilst writing this post. Last week I had a lovely week's holiday in Lanzarote which you can find out all about here. Whilst on my holidays I took a visit to the beach at Peurto Del Carmen, I have to say I pretty much despise the beach I just cannot be doing with the sand getting everywhere and all over me it makes me feel so uncomfortable. But all the girls wanted to go so I faced me fears and went, it was a beautiful beach but I still didn't particular love the experience.

This post is dedicated to everything which I took with me to the beach in my bag.
I loved reading Summer at Shell Cottage by Lucy Diamond, it was a great holiday read, with a lively and loving story line, I highly recommend it if you wanted a light but joyous read.
I have had my Havaianas flipflops for quite a few summers now, I bought them whilst in Italy as they were much cheaper. I love the clash of colours and how vibrant they are, I don't think that flipflops all round are particularly comfy but these are the comfiest I've ever tried and are so convenient for the pool.
Elle magazine is something which I have been reading since I was 16, and I continue to read. I think it is the most fashion forward magazine out there, and I love drooling over all the high end fashion pages which I will never be able to afford.
The Garnier Ambre Solaire Protection Spray Factor 30 was my best friend on the holiday, I burn so easy as I am so fair. I had to wear this all week as my skin just could not cope with anything less. I like the spray bottles as it makes application much easier and the formula was not too greasy or oily.
I bought this Nivea Sun Protect & Bronze Face Sun Cream Factor 30 as usually oil based creams make me break out really bad, and hate that heavy feeling on your skin like you have an extra layer on top of your skin. I would definitely recommend this it was lighter and thin to apply to the skin, and it didn't have too much of a negative effect on my skin which was an added bonus.
My trusty iPod touch much be at least 5 years old but it's still going strong. It's so convenient for your holidays and can download games on it to keep you entertained.
My new DKNY purse featured in my Birthday Presents post which you can read here. My first outing using it was on holiday and I really like it, it is sturdy and the card compartments inside is so much easier for keeping everything together.

What are your beach/pool essentials?

Lucy
xoxo
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Sunday 26 July 2015

Lanzarote









Yesterday early hours in the morning I landed home after a brilliant 8 nights away in Lanzarote, on a girls holiday. We stayed in the resort called Peurto Del Carmen which I haven't visited since I was 4 years of age, so it was pretty much a brand new adventure for us all. It was such a beautiful island which was very sunny ranging from 30-38 degrees everyday. One thing which me and friends noticed was how particularly windy the island is, whilst around the pool it was nice and breezy cooling you down. Some times though it was a little too windy and my hat would literally fly off my head and across to the other side of the pool with no notice. We was planning on a relaxing holiday, after two of my friends had just graduated and me and my other friend have just finished our second year of uni. We all felt we needed a chilled holiday, just sitting round not really doing much. But when we got there we realised how big the strip was in the Old Town, and we ended up partying till 4/5 in the morning most nights - we just could not resist!

We stayed just above the Harbour and our room was overlooking the sea which was rather delightful to wake up to. Within the town there is an Old Town and a New Town which was great as we had so many options of restaurants and bars to choose from each night. We went on a lovely boat trip where we were told we could see dolphin and turtles, unfortunately we didn't manage to see either which was rather disappointing. But we did get to jet ski and snorkel in the sea which was a truly amazing experience, and we also got unlimited amounts of the 'Lanzarote' punch. This was where I took a lot of my photos as there was just so much beautiful scenery surrounding the boat. I really enjoyed the holiday, and actually managed to pick up a bit of a tan for the first time in a while which I am rather pleased with.

Lucy
xoxo
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Wednesday 22 July 2015

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and Catherine Audacious Lipstick


After my 21st Birthday Makeover you get the opportunity to get the £35 on the makeover back in products. So essentially the makeover is free! As mentioned in my previous post there was two other products which I initially chose, but they were both sold out. However, I am so happy with what I decided to pick up, which was the Radiant Creamy Concealer and the Catherine Audacious Lipstick.

The creamy concealer is something which has been on my wish list for a while and I was so happy to finally get my hands on it. As I am pale skinned I picked up the shade Vanilla (light 2), which is actually a really great match. It may be a little light once I am back from my holidays and hopefully have a tan but for most of the year it will be a perfect match. Many bloggers compare this to the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, so I am going to be comparing the two and I will post my verdict in a future post. I am having been testing it out briefly this week, and my first impression is that I really like it. I love the creamy texture and I think the coverage is medium which covers any blemishes well, and it also has a good longerity. At £22, it is expensive for a concealer and I think I will be using it quite sparingly as I don't want to waste it.

The audacious line from Nars, has been something which I have wanted to try for a while now. But with a £24 price tag attached to them it hasn't been something which I have rushed to buy, and have previously headed to MAC instead. The packaging of this is really luxurious with a shiny matte finish which is simple and sophisticated. I love that it has a magnet close inside, meaning you can ensure that the lid is secure and there is no way of it coming off. The colour of this is a mid toned orange, I don't own any lipsticks of this shade or similar so it is something fresh and new to my collection. The only orange toned lipstick which I previously owned is MAC Vegas Volt, is much brighter and bolder but looks great as a pop of colour to the lips. Catherine is going to be much simpler and easier to wear, and I can already see it becoming a firm favourite and having a secure place in the bottom of my handbag!

Lucy
xoxo
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Sunday 19 July 2015

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne







I have wanted a Jo Malone fragrance for quite a few years now, and my mum must have picked up on me always going on about them! For my birthday she had been asking me for ideas and had been asking me the types of fragrance I liked. In the end she simply said that if I wanted one to just choose the one which I liked, as she didn't want to get it wrong. I finally decided on Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne  as the scent is so fresh and sweet which is what I really like. I never choose floral scents, I will always opt for something fruity. I was torn between this and Blackberry and Bay, but I felt as though the Blackberry and Bay was quite overpowering, and the Nectarine Blossom & Honey was more refreshing. When you spray it you can tell that it is more pure as the scent is just much stronger. The perfume contains nectarine, peach, cassis and a note of acacia honey. They are expensive as 30ml is £42, but I have been wearing it all this week and the scent lasts for so long. All the colognes also come in 100ml bottles which cost £85, but in the long term if it is your favourite scent it is definitely worth while splashing out.

Lucy
xoxo
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Wednesday 15 July 2015

MAC Warm Neutral Palette




This was one of two things which I asked for, for my birthday as I have had my eyes on it forever. It is the MAC Warm Neutral Palette.

The colours from left to right:
Hey, Warm Breeze, Gingersnap, Dark Brew, Dance in the Dark
Brule, Vanilla Extract, Honey Lust, Amber Lights, Saddle
Lemon Tart, Butterfudge, Creative Copper, Unwind and Divine Decadence

This is such a beautiful palette, it contains so many colours which I have been wanting to pick up for you long. I have had my eye on particularly Amber Lights, Unwind and Gingersnap. The palette costs £65 which is such a bargain and equates to just £4.33 an eyeshadow, if I was to buy these individually it would cost me over £150. If you like a majority of the colours in the palette this is definitely something to add to your wishlist. I am going to be taking this on holiday as I create so many different looks.

Lucy
xoxo
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Sunday 12 July 2015

21st Birthday Presents


If you have been reading my other blog posts this week you will that this week I turned 21! I have been blogging about my birthday makeover and my birthday night out and outfit. Today this post I all about what presents I received off my lovely friends and family. I love reading these types of posts on other bloggers sites when it is Christmas and their birthdays, it is a great way to see new products which you are interested in. It also gives me inspiration for what I might like or what to buy others.

My parents have been asking me for weeks what I wanted for my birthday, and there was nothing particularly big that I wanted. The only thing which I said I would like was the MAC Warm Neutral Palette, as I saw it in Selfridge's whilst recently shopping and I loved it instantly. It contains such a huge range of colours, and if you are wanting to shake up your eye makeup and add some new shades this is perfect and great value at £65 for 15 colours. I choose the Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne  as the scent is so fresh and sweet which is what I really like. I never choose floral scents, I will always opt for something fruity. They are expensive as 30ml is £42, but I already really love this and it looks gorgeous on your dressing table. It is a great size for travelling and popping into your handbag in order to refresh during the day. My biggest present off my parents was my iPad mini which is so thoughtful of them, I have been debating for months on whether to splash out on one, as I have just not been able to bring myself to part with my money. I have been loving it this week, and it is so handy. It will be great for travelling and they got a personalised message on the back which was a lovely addition. On my birthday within my card, there was a ticket to see Wicked at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, which is not too far from where we live. I have to say me and my sister have been going on and on about it for months. I have to say it was AMAZING! The whole family went, and it was such a great evening. I felt a little bit emotional after as I will remember my birthday for the rest of my life and that was the perfect end to such a great day.

My sister has always been one to spoil me at birthdays and Christmas, she is five years older than me and always splashes out. I was really shocked however with her generosity this year. She bought me a beautiful Michael Kors clutch bag which is leather and has gold detailing and has the Michael Kors logo embossed on the front. Inside it has an organisation section where there is a zip, and holders for your cards which is brilliant meaning you do not need to necessarily take out a purse. Unfortunately I can not find it anywhere on the internet, or anything similar from the brand. The YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in Rose Baby Doll is a great bright pink. It is a real show stopper of a colour and I cannot wait to wear this. I think I might have to save it for a day when I am going somewhere special as it is really bold. On swatching it on my hand it so pigmented and it stained my hand which is a good sign of its longevity. This beautiful purse from DKNY is a great size for your handbag. I know she bought it from Selfridge's but I can't seem to find the exact one but there are many similar here. I love the quilted detail and the lock detail on the front. It has a big zip around the outside, and compartments inside meaning it is so much easier to organise everything.

My grandparents bought me a beautiful silver bracelet, it is by a brand called Joma Jewellery, and it has a little star on it. It is really delicate and it looks simple and sophisticated on.

My best friend Rach is so great at choosing presents, for the past few years we have been buying each other makeup items for birthdays/Christmas and we usually both opt for lipsticks. I have fallen in love with the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in L'Eclatante, she knows me so well it is a total Lucy colour, pink and bright! I love it and the packaging is so luxurious, I feel so expensive when it is applied. Because she is amazing she also got me the Nars Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Cassiopeia which is such a beautiful shade. It is iridescent and shimmery, this is the perfect colour for popping it in your inner eye to brighten the entire area. We totally loved Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen as teenagers, I have known her for ten years and this is such a thoughtful present. It is the book by Mary-Kate and Ashley called  Influence, which is beautiful it contains lots of photos and I have been constantly flicking through it, I love it. We are a little sad but shes MK and and I am A, yes we are cute and yes we are both 21!

My closest bunch of friends who  are just brilliant they bought me the Charlotte Tilsbury Lipstick in Very Victoria  it is a little dark, but I have been really trying to make it work as it is a really lovely colour. Now my birthday is in July, but they bought me the March Pandora birthstone ring and birthstone earrings. I already have the July set, and the Aquamarine set is just beautiful and it does not mean that you have to have a birthday within that month to wear it. I love this colour it subtly stands out and all the jewellery is sterling silver. I have been wearing the set all week and I have had such lovely comments off everywhere.

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who bought me presents, I love you all.

Lucy
xoxo


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Friday 10 July 2015

21st Birthday Night Out & Outfit







If you read Tuesday's post you would have known that on Tuesday it was my 21st Birthday! I popped up a post all about my Nars Makeover. Today, I am giving the lowdown on what I wore and all the details.

After I had a fab time at the Nars makeup counter on Saturday, I headed home to get changed. I had bought my Zara Skort Playsuit back in April when they first started getting their summer stock in, and I instantly fell in love. It is such a unique style and I love the quirky print channeling my inner 70's. It cost £29.99 and I am going to definitely be taking this on my holidays later on this month. My shoes are from Primark and were a real bargain at £14, the staff were just putting them on the shelves when I went into the store. If I have to say so myself all my friends looked absolutely stunning, what a stylish bunch they are!

We then headed to a restaurant near my house called La Roma with my family, which is a gorgeous little Italian located in the little village which I love. We were all starving so much, that I did not take any pictures of my food, but I had a lovely pasta dish called penne a la vodka which was so delicious. We then headed back to my house for some pre-drinks of champagne in my back garden as the weather decided to stay nice. This is where we decided to cut my birthday cake, this had been my hardest decision of the entire event. I had been longing for a rainbow cake, but unfortunately I had not managed to get one from anywhere so my mum picked me up this pinata cake from Asda which will brilliant!

Once arriving in Manchester we headed to a cocktail bar called The Botanist. It was so lovely and they was a live band playing relaxing songs which was really great, After a cocktail or two, we headed to Revs de Cuba which is a place which I have never been to before but it has been highly recommended to me by many of my friends. It was a great place and they was lots of salsa type songs mixed in with the classics.

After picking up a McDonald's on the way at 4am, I was finally tucked up in bed. I had a fabulous time celebrating and I could not of asked for a better night or a better way to spend my birthday than with my closest friends.

Lucy
xoxo


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Tuesday 7 July 2015

21st Birthday Nars Makeover





Today is my 21st birthday and I had the best weekend ever celebrating it! This week I am going to be dedicating the posts to all things surrounding my birthday, as I have so much to write about.

It all kicked off on Saturday afternoon I headed to Nars counter at Selfridges in the Trafford Centre, where I had booked an appointment to have my makeup done at 5pm. I had been deliberating for weeks about which beauty counter I wanted to have my makeup done at. I finally settled on Nars as I decided it is the brand which I have really been loving recently. The way in which their makeovers work is you pay £35 for the makeover, and then you get that amount back in products.

On arrival to the counter the lovely Beki welcomed me and told me to take a seat at the counter. She was so lovely and asked me the type of makeup which I was wanting. I felt that she really listened to what I described that I wanted, which was golden, peachy eyes, with glowy, dewy skin. She picked lots of different colours and options from the Nars counter and together we made a combination which we think would work. I really liked this as I had previously had a makeover at MAC and they did not offer me this much involvement. I also felt at MAC that you were kind of on a convey a belt as they had so many makeovers booked you have a very specific time slot which they have to stick to. At Nars I was there for at least an hour, and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire session.

She started with my eyes applying the Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and then she applied Skorpios Soft Touch Shadow Pencil all over the lid, I completely fell in love with this, the pigmentation was so beautiful and a perfect copper shade. I think she actually used the Duel Intensity Blush in Frenzy which at the time I thought was an eyeshadow palette, but it appears to be a blush palette, proving its versatility.  She applied the shimmering bright tangerine orange shade to the outer third, and then  soft pinky gold highlighter colour to the inner third. She finished off by adding a thin layer of the Nars Eye Paint in Mesopotamia with a little cat flack to add a little finishing touch to the entire look. She applied my false lashes which I took with me from MAC, which was extra lovely of her. She then gently blended the Skorpios Pencil along my bottom lash, and that was my eyes complete. She then started with my face makeup she started by applying the Light Optimising Primer all over the skin. For my base she applied Sheer Glow Foundation in Punjab mixed in with the Hot Sand Illuminator. Next, she added the Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard to areas where it was needed, and the Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder to set my base in place. She then used the new Blame it on Nars Cheek Palette, she started by applying the Casino Bronzing Powder, adding definition and contour. Within the palette there is two new blushers called Day Dream and New Attitude, she actually choose to apply a blush which was not in the palette called Luster, which is a beautiful peachy orange shade. She then applied the Satellite of Love highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones using the mini Kabuki Ita Brush which has been formulated in a smaller version just for this palette, which costs £45. She finished by adding the Salzbourg Brow Perfector through my brows, and adding the Audacious Lipstick in Juliette to my lips.

When it came to choosing my two products to take home, I had already made my mind up as I had fallen in love with colour of the Skorpios Pencil and the Juliette Lipstick. However, when she went to check the stock they were both sold out, which I was so upset about. I therefore choose the Radiant Creamy Concealer but in Vanilla which is the lighter shade as I had fake tan on and Custard would usually be a little too dark. For my lipstick choice I choose Catherine this was so similar to Juliette but actually contains a little more coral which I was perfectly happy with. I had a great experience at Nars and I would recommend it to anyone who has a special event to celebrate, and wants to feel extra fabulous.

Lucy
xoxo


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Friday 3 July 2015

My Marble Background





I have been wanting to get a marble effect background for my blog posts for a while now. I have seen many bloggers doing it in many different ways. I stumbled across a post by Jasmine Talks Beauty about how she picked up a marble effect background from Wilkinson's, once I read the post I thought it was a genius idea. I had been meaning to go and back myself some up for weeks, and finally last week I popped into my local Wilkinson's and there was a huge display of lots of different types.

I decided that I wanted the most simple effect which was the light grey, but there was lots of intriguing colours which had red and green running through them, which I think would look great for photos. The backing of the paper is self adhesive which makes it super simple to attach. The self adhesive papers are just £4 which is such great value, especially if you a blogging on a budget, just like me! You get a big roll as well which I have saved, if you are wanting to photograph something which is much bigger than the square in which you have created, you can just roll your excess paper out and put something heavy at each side to hold it down and it works just as well. As I often travel between home and university, I wanted the base to be light rather than glass or something heavy. I was browsing round and found a kitchen cake board for just £3 which I was so pleased with as it is really light and the perfect size. I actually really liked the silver top of the cake board, so I stuck the marble adhesive to the base of the board. Therefore I now have two new blogging backgrounds, the most inventive I think I have ever been! It is really easy to do, as the back of the self adhesive has grids on it so you can cut it to size and simply stick it on.

Whilst I was there I also picked up some artificial flowers which I wasn't sure if I was going to love or hate, but I actually think that they look pretty good positioned in the right place. There are lots of different types of flowers I picked up the flower bush assorted  which was a great size and great value for just £2.50.

I will definitely be heading to Wilkinson's again in the future for blogging props as they are such great value, as I managed to get all of this for under £10.

Lucy
xoxo

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